Between hope and falsehood

The role played by different political parties in the Senate elections belies democratic norms. First, candidates aspiring for Senate seats are being asked to pay a hefty amount to political parties. This deters people from the middle class and low income groups to come forward. Second, political parties in Pakistan are mostly run by dynasties. So, personal likes and dislikes hinder the selection of appropriate candidates.
Third, political parties are selecting those candidates who hail from provinces other than the one they have filed their papers from. How does a person represent the interests of a province to which he does not belong? Fourth, candidates who have nothing to show politically are being nominated repeatedly. Finally and most importantly: the use of money openly to influence the election outcome. Who is responsible for this mess?
Tariq Mahmood Khan
Faisalabad